Edward w



E. W. NEWELL.

TIME FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE.23. I9I1.

1,309,770. I Patented .Iu1y15,1919.

u Il I `{vlg/ l INVENTOR Il l I Edward VV. Newell ,-45 d A Fig. 2; Fig.' 5 a sectional view of a portion of the projectile nose, showing the atmos- -uNITED-- STATES PATENT ori-fron ED'WAIBD W. NEWELL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AiSSIG-NOB, T0 THE TESTING-HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, F WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A

'CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.-

TIME-FUSE FOB PRJECTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Patented J u1y'1w5, 1.919.A

Application led une 23, 1917. Serial 170,176,603.

To aZZi'wwm t may concern:

Be it known that I,

- a citizen of the United States, residin at State of Pittsburgh in the county of Allegheny-arid and useful Improvements in Time-Fuses l for Projectiles, 0f which the following is a specilication Thisv invention relates to -explosive projectiles, and more particularly to a tlme fuse mechanism therefor. The ordinar time fuse .for projectiles i employsa pow er train, the length of which A is intended to be adjusted so as' to burn in 1 15 a predetermined length of time.

In practice, it has been found difficult to make a powder train which can be depended l upon to always burn a predetermined length of time, as `slight variations in composltion and the pressure at which the train is compressed and varying atmospherlc conditions will causejchanges in the time. of burning.l Furthermore, accurate machining and careful construction of the fuse mechanism is 'necessaryto insure proper adjustdition, carelessness in fittingmay permit leakage, 'so that the burning train may prematurely e lode the charge.

The principa object of my invention isA I to provide a time fuse mechanism in whlch j `the above diliiculties are avoided and for this purpose the powder train is dispensed with and ,the timing function is accomplished by` the use of uid under pressure.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 V is a central sectional view' of a projectile embodying myinvention, showing the fuse mechanism in normal position; Fig. 2 a' cen- -tral sectional view of the fuse mechanism,

. showing' the position of parts after the projectile is firedfrom the gun; Fig. 3 a similar view, showing the positions of parts. 'after the timing fuse operates; Fig. 4 a

fragmentary section on the line a-a vof pheric vent in the' vent ring; Fig. 6 a'sectional view of a portion of the projectile nose, showing a modified 'construction for -regulating the size of the vent port ;A and Fig. 7 a rear face view of a portion of the ventport adjusting ring.

,As shown in the drawing, the construction EDWARD W. Nnwnu.,

Igennsylvania, have 'invented new ma comprise a central member 1 "adapted 'to' e screwed into the main body portion 2 of the projectileand secured by screw threads to said central member 1 is a cylindrical fuse casing 3.

Within the fuse casing 3 is a pistonchamber containing a piston 4 adapted to act on a -coil spring 5 engaging a ring 6 mounted f on -a cylindrical extension 7 of the central Y The ring 6 is provided with an annular inclined face 26 ada ted to normally engage conicalheads ofhoding pins 8 and within the cylindrical extension 7 is mounted a slidable firing plunger 9 having an annular inclined face 10v adapted to normally engage conical points of the pins 8.

lScrewed into the. end of the cylindrical extension .7- is a sleeve 11, within which is mounted a spring cap 12, normally held in engagement with an annular shoulder 13 of 'the sleeve 11 by a coil sprlng 14 interposed between the cap and the firing plunger 9.

A plug 15V having a centra conical valve seat 16 is screwed into the nose end of the .".casing 3 and a-valve 17 havinga stem 18 is adapted to engage said .seat w en operated.

The stem 18 i's mounted in a piston 19 having a seat '2Q adapted to engage an 'annular seat Aring 21 of acap 22 which;v is screwed into the rear endof the plug -15- and interposed between the valve 17 and piston 19 is a coil spring 23. preferably un- V der initial compression".

-The valve 17 is normally locked in its open position by means of a spring clip 24 which is looped Iover a cross-bar 25 of the cap 22 and has its ends bent inwardlyy so as.. f

to engage an interior face formed by slotting the stem 18, the clip 24 being normally prevented from expanding by engagement with the walls of the bore containing the stem 18. A

.Mounted on the forward portion of the casing`3 is a rotatable jring 27 .having a series of spaced ports 28 of varying size opening into holes 29 of uniform size, the latter holes being adapted to register with a passage 30 leading to the chamber 31 ,at the front of piston 4 as the ring is rotated. At

one point in the .circumference of the ring there is provided a vent port 32 which is adapted to continually register with a groove 33 formed in a nut 34 which is elnand -consequentl ployed to clamp the ring 27 in position, andl ger 9 and said pins are yieldingly held inv position by spring pressed clips 37, said clips being spllt and having rear flange portions 38 adaptedv -to spring out and engage a rear wall of member 1 when forced ack by the movement of pins 36.

The primer 39 is mountedy 1n alongitudinally movable holder 40 which isnormally held in position by a split spring rlng 41.

In operation, the parts are normally 1n the positions. shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, with the primer holder 40 held by the spring ring 41, the firing plunger 9 by the pins 8, the valve 17 being held open by the clip 24. The firing plunger 9 is also posltively held in4 position by the pins 36, so 4that the projectile cannot be accidentally exploded during yhandling and transportation..

When it is desired to use a projectile, the nut 34 is unscrewed and the ring 27 is slipped back outor' engagement with pin 35,

so that the ring may. be rotated. r

The ports 28 are calculated to vent fluid at such a rate that the y:fuse will be operated when the time in seconds has elapsed accordin to the, marked graduation in seconds not shown) for the particular port, the ring 27 is turned to bring the desire pori-l 28into registry with passage 30 and then the ring is slipped back against its gasket 42 and the pin 35 engages in one of theholes 29, so as to prevent rota'- tion of the, ring 27. The `nut 34 is then screwed down against the ring 27 and the projectile is 4ready for iiring.

Upon firing the projectile, the piston 4 is thrown relatively rearwardly by inertia against a rear seat, and air from the atmosphere enters at the opening formed by the valve 17 and passes through .passages 43' to chamber 31.

The pressure of air in chamber 31 necessary to operate the parts is made low enough to'come within the range of air pressure which maybeattained under the slowest projectile speed and the highest altitude.

When the 4predetermined pressure as above determined is reached in chamber'31, the same is sufficient to lift piston 19 off its seat 21 'against the resistanceof the spring 23, and the full area of the piston being now exposed, the piston promptly moves forward so as to uncover the arms of the spring clip 24, which immediately fly out to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The spring 23 then under compression acts on the valve 17 to force the same against its seat 16 and thus cut o' the .further iniiow of air to chamber 31. When the piston 19 has moved out a certain distance, an expandible spring ring 44 iies out and engages'thefront end wall of cap 22., thus preventing the return movement of the piston, so that the pressure of spring 23 is maintained to hold the valve-4 17 seated. 4

In the meantime, the rotary movement of.

vthe projectile on its axis throws the pins 36 outwardly, causing the spring clips 37 to be forced rearwardly, so that the flan es 38- can move out and lock, as-shown in ig. 2

of the drawing. l

The pins 36v having moved out, the firing plunger9 is free to strike the primer when released.' v

As the fpiston 4 moves rearwardly, .it engages the springcap 12 and shiftssame rear# cape through the particular port 28 which registers With passage 30,` the piston 4 is moved forward bythe spring 5, so that the pressure on the ring 6 and the pins 8 is relieved and when the piston 4 is near the end -of its stroke,-the spring pressure 0n'- the ring 6 is reduced to a point such that the ressure of the compressed spring 14 is su cientto force the firing plunger 9 rearwardly, the

pins 8 being thrown out radially, and the ring 6 being pressed forward against the weakened resistance of spring- 5.4

The firing plunger 9 having been released,

strikes lthe rimer 39 and explodes the projectile in t e usual manner. f

In order to insure the prompt. andpositive outward movement of piston 4 through its i full stroke, a grooveJ 47 is provided 1n the stroke of the piston, so that when the piston is near the end of its stroke fluid under pressure in chamber 31 can leak through 'said'. groove around the piston lrin 48 tothe op'- posite side of the piston an thus tend to equalize the opposing Huid pressures on the piston, so that the movement of the piston cylinder bore of casing 3 near the end of the by the springv 5 is facilitated and: then the pressure of spring. 14 acting through the firmg plunger 9 is suiicient to force .the pins 8 outwardly and permit the iring plunger 9 4to strike the primer 39 and thereby explode the projectile.

If the projectile should graze an object during flight or should the `timing mechanism ail to act so as to permit the projectile to strike, the projectile will be exploded by the shock, since the shock of contact with an object causes the relative forward moveiso ment of the primerholder by inertia, so

that the spring ring llis forced outwardly and the primer 39,' through the movement of the holder 40,*is brought into engagement with the firing plunger 9.

' A modified construction for controlling the-,venting of air from chamber 3l is shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawing, in which the ports 28a open directly into the cham'ber 31 and the connecting holes 29EL are normally sealed from the atmosphere by a thin metal band 46 which forms an air tight joint.

When theprojectile is to be fired, the band A is punched through at the particular hole 29'iL corresponding with the port 28a which it is desired to open, so that air in chamber 31 can escape through the punched hole during the Hight of the projectile.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In -a'projectile, ythe combination with a fuse mechanism, of a chamber having an'air inlet and a vent port, means for closing said inlet port upon charging the chamber With air to a predetermined pressure during the Hight of the projectile, and means operated upona predetermined reduction in pressure in said chamber through said vent port for' effecting the operation of said fuse mechanism.

2. In a projectile, the combination with a fuse mechanism, of a chamber having an air 'inlet port and a vent port, means operated upon a reduction in pressure in'said cham? .ber for eiecting the operation of said fuse mechanism, and means for closin said inlet f port upon the pressure Vin said c amber at;

taining a predetermined degree.-

3. In a projectile, the combination with a firing plunger, of 'a iston device subject to the 'pressure in a c amber adapted to be charged with Huid under pressure-during the Hight of the projectile and actuated upon a. predetermined reduction in pressure in said chamber for eHecting the operation of said firing plunger and means for venting Huid v' from said chamber at a predetermined rate.

. 4. In a projectile, the combination with a firing plunger, of a chamber having a port' .through which Huid is compressed into said chamber from the atmosphere during the 1 ,Hight of the'projectile and a piston device subject to the pressure in said chamber and actuated upon a predetermined reduction in pressure' in said chamber for effecting the operation of said ring plunger, and means i for varying thel rate at which Huid is vented from said chamber.

5. In a projectile, the combination with a firing, plunger, of a chamber having a port Y. .through which Huid is compressed into said lchamber from .the atmosphere during the Hight of the projectile and a piston device su ject to the pressure in a chamber adapted to be charged with Huid under pressure and actuated upon a predetermined reduction in pressure in said chamber for'electing the operation of said firing. plunger, and means adapted to be adjusted for connecting one of a plurality of ports varying in size Wlth said chamber for venting Huid from said chamber at a predeterminedl rate.

6.In a projectile, the combination with a firing plunger, of a piston devicesubject to the pressure of a chamber and operated upon a predetermined reduction in pressure in said chamber for effecting the operation of said firing plunger, a valve device for controlling communication through Which air lfrom the atmosphere is supplied to said chamber during the Hight of the projectile and adapted to close said communication at a\ predetermined pressure' in the chamber, Y

and means for venting Huid from berat 'a predetermined rate.

7 In a fuse mechanism, the combination With a firing plunger, of a piston operated the chambyi'luid under pressure in a chamber for im- "pressing a propulsive force on said plunger,

and a locking device controlled by said piston for preventing movement of the plunger .and adapted. to release said plunger upon movement of said piston under a predetermined reduction in ressure in said chamber.

8. In a fuse mec anism, the combination With a firing plunger, of a spring, a piston operated vupon an increase in Huid pressure in a chamber for compressin said spring against the firing plunger, and a device operated b the movement of the piston for locking t e firing plunger against movement, and adapted to be released bv the movement of said piston upon a predetermined reduction in pressure in said chamber to therebyy permit the operation of said plunger by said spring.

9. In a fuse mechanism, the combination with a firing plunger, of a piston controlled .by the fluid pressure in a chamber for effecting the operation of said plunger and a rotatable ring having a plurality of ports of'varying size and adapted to be adjusted to connect 'said chamber through one of the Aports with an exhaust port.

10. 1n a fuse mechanism, the combination with aring plunger-having an inclined face, of pins adapted to engage said face, a

'ring having an lnclined face for also engaging said pins, a piston, and a springv interposed between said ring and said piston. 11. In a fuse mechanism, the combination with a 'firing plunger having an inclined face,'of pins adapted to engage said face, a ring having an inclined face for also engaging said pins, a piston, a spring interposed between said ring and said piston, and a spring acting on said plunger and adapted to be compressed by the movement of said piston.

'12.- In a fuse mechanism, the -combination to be -com ressed by vthe movement of said with al firing lunger having an inclined' piston, an means for locking 'said spring in face, of pins a apted to engage said. face, a its compressed position. ring havin an inclined face fol: also env In testimony whereof I have herelmto set 5 gagng sai pins, a pist/oma sprlng ntermy'hancl l l posed between said rmg"` and sald p1ston,'ya A spring ating on said `plungerand adapted EDWARD W. NEW'ELL. 

